This fall, a team of Niagara University students from the Holzschuh College of Business Administration competed against teams from 138 schools nationwide in the College Fed Challenge, a rigorous team competition that gives undergraduate students the opportunity to learn about the U.S. economy, monetary policymaking, and the work of Federal Open Market Committee. This is the fourth year that NU students have participated in the challenge.
Lauren Janik, Natalie Killion, Joseph Loria, and Andrew Reist developed a monetary policy recommendation based on their analysis of economic and financial conditions and the significant risks that should be considered, prepared a 15-minute video presentation that was reviewed by a panel of judges who are experts in economics and monetary policy, and answered follow-up questions during a virtual session in October.
Reist, a sophomore finance major from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, especially appreciated the collaborative aspect of the challenge.
“The Fed Challenge gave our team the freedom to explore trade uncertainty in a self-directed way, and I learned as much from my teammates as I did from the research itself,” he said. “Working together showed me how geopolitics, supply chains, and monetary policy are all interconnected, and gave me a much deeper appreciation for the difficult decisions the Federal Reserve faces.”
While the team did not advance to the final round of the competition, their advisor, Dr. Dennis Nsafoah, assistant professor of finance and economics, noted that the experience was still an incredibly valuable one for the students.
“Our Niagara University team spent weeks poring over data, debating scenarios, and crafting a professional presentation that could stand alongside submissions from some of the top institutions in the country,” he said. “As their faculty advisor, I was especially proud of how Lauren, Joseph, Andrew, and Natalie combined solid economic theory with clear communication and teamwork. They didn’t just learn about monetary policy in a textbook—they practiced it in a setting where clarity, rigor, and sound judgment really matter. Their performance showcased the quality of our students at the Holzschuh College of Business Administration and the kind of experiential learning we value at Niagara University. This experience has strengthened their analytical skills, confidence, and sense of professional purpose, and I have no doubt it will stay with them long after graduation.”
You can view their presentation here.
